, Sept. 7 -- Bangladesh's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell by 3.2 points in August from July, settling at 58.3, indicating a slower pace of economic growth, according to a report released Sunday.

The latest PMI, jointly published by the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Dhaka, and Policy Exchange Bangladesh (PEB), showed that the country has maintained 11 consecutive months of economic growth though agriculture and construction sectors returned to contraction.

The agriculture sector contracted after 10 months of growth hit by weaker new business, reduced activity, and rising input costs.

Employment declined for the third consecutive month through at a slower pace.

The manufacturing sector continued to expand f...