Photosynthetic rate and productivity of modern and local rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars were compared at different levels of nitrogen and elevated CO 2 concentrations. BRRIdhan 39 and Shakkorkhora representing modern and local cultivars, respectively were tested under the conditions of three nitrogen levels and three CO 2 concentrations. Nitrogen levels were (i) control (0 kg N ha -1 ), (ii) optimum (90 kg N ha -1 for modern and 60 kg N ha -1 for local cultivar) and (iii) supra optimum (135 kg N ha -1 for modern and 90 kg N ha -1 for local cultivar). Conversely, the three CO 2 concentrations were (i) open top chamber (OTC) with elevated CO 2 (570 50 ppm), (ii) OTC with ambient CO 2 (360 ppm) and (iii) open field. It was observed that the elevated CO 2 independently increased the photosynthetic rates in both cultivars. While in interaction, elevated CO 2 and supra optimal nitrogen increased the photosynthetic rate in modern rice cultivar only. Productivity of two rice cultivars corresponded to that of photosynthetic rates. The highest yield (50.82 g plant -1) was found in modern cultivar at supra optimal nitrogen and elevated CO 2 treatments. In contrary, the lowest yield (15.09 g plant -1) was observed in local cultivar at zero kg nitrogen treatment. However, productivity of local rice cultivar was substantially increased either by applied optimum nitrogen or by CO 2 enrichment.