Dhaka, Jan. 30 -- Over the past decade, the manufacturing sector's contribution to the national economy has declined compared with the previous 10 years, according to the economic census by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, or BBS.

Preliminary findings from the 2024 census reveal that the industrial sector's share in economic activities is now 8.77 percent, down from 11.54 percent in 2013.

The national statistical agency released the initial report of the "Economic Census 2024" on Wednesday at its auditorium. The government conducts this census every 10 years.

The survey categorises economic establishments into three groups.

Businesses operating from a fixed address are classified as permanent economic units. Those conducting busin...