Abstract: High frequency callus induction ability was achieved from well-germinated embryos (on hormone free MS media) of eight indica rice genotypes by culturing on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg l-1 2,4-D and solidified with 0.3% phytagel. When mature seeds were directly cultured, the highest frequencies of callus induction were observed for two genotypes (IR51491-AC5-4 and BR24) out of eight genotypes tested. However, embryogenic callus induction ability of different genotypes significantly differed. Calli from scutellar tissue formed yellow, compact, friable and globular type embryogenic calli designated as embryogenic (E) type I. In contrast when callus produced from root regions of germinated embryo all genotypes showed high callus induction ability and formed soft-friable, pale yellow, shiny and nodular calli designated as embryogenic type II. In both case crystalline, hard, white with suppressed root primordia were formed which were designated as non-embryogenic (NE) calli. The simple procedures described in this paper provide an efficient protocol for reproducible callus induction method of Bangladeshi rice varieties/line, which is pre-requisite for a good regeneration system and a source of fine embryogenic cell suspension cultures for protoplast isolation and genetic transformation method.