Dhaka, July 5 -- Bangladesh's large industrial sector largely defied a downtrend elsewhere by posting an annualized 4.15-percent growth in April, although the largest-export-earning apparel industry was little downbeat, according to official statistics.

Latest Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) data showed the Quantum Index of Large-Scale Manufacturing (LSM) rose to 182.12 in April 2025, up from 174.87 in April 2024, giving economists to feel good about potential advances in economic performances.

The growth was broad-based, with 19 out of 23 major industrial sectors contributing positively.

However, four key sectors -- readymade garments (RMG), food products, plastic and rubber goods, and chemicals -- registered a decline, partiall...