This article demonstrates a dual‐passband filter based on dual‐mode dielectric resonators (DR). In communication systems, dual‐band filters find vital applications as to reduce the size of the system which further decreases the cost of the system. The dual‐band filters can be designed using dual‐mode DR which are realized using semicircular DR. The designed filter introduces a very low level of complexity by reducing the number of coupling to be handled to realize the filter. The dual‐mode concept has been incorporated by using the concept of semicircular DR. Also, the control mechanisms have been provided to work independently with each couplings. The designed filter uses the concept of orthogonal modes in the DR which are further utilized to produce the two passbands. This dual‐band filter is operating at center frequencies 5.28/5.58 GHz with almost 1% bandwidth in each band. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:542–547, 2014