TBT DESK: Bangladesh’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose by 4.9 points in July from the previous month to 57.8, signalling a faster pace of economic expansion. The Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Dhaka, and Policy Exchange Bangladesh (PEB) released the July Bangladesh PMI report on Sunday. Three of the four key sectors recorded expansion, with manufacturing posting the strongest performance at 65.4, followed by services at 56.0 and agriculture at 55.2. New business and business activity remained in expansion, while employment moved into marginal contraction. New business, employment and input costs recorded faster expansion, while the backlog of orders contracted at a slower pace.