<p>Rice is a staple food for much of the global population and is essential for maintaining steady food production. However, in southern Bangladesh, soil conditions and several environmental factors present significant threats to achieving optimal productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the morphological differences among thirty local and modern rice genotypes in southern Bangladesh, concentrating on their adaptability, location, and performance in these challenging conditions. The experiment was conducted at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute in Gopalganj, employing a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Significant variation was observed in panicle length, filled grains, unfilled grains, grain length, grain breadth, 1000-grain weight, and grain yield per hill. ASS04 and ASS10 exhibited superior performance with longer panicles, higher 1000-grain weight, increased grain length, filled grains, and the highest grain yield per hill. On the other hand, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and correlation analysis revealed that grain length, grain breadth, grain yield per hill, and 1000-grain weight were the major contributors to variability among the genotypes. In addition, cluster analysis identified cluster no. III, with the highest-performing cluster including genotypes ACC4, ACC29, ACC21, and ACC23. These findings highlight the importance of genetic diversity in rice improvement, particularly in southern environments. The identified high-performing genotypes would serve as valuable genetic resources for developing resilient and high-yielding rice varieties based on their agro-morphological traits.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>