Dhaka, May 8 -- Bangladesh's overall economic activities expanded at a faster pace in April, supported mainly by stronger performance in agriculture and a rebound in manufacturing, according to the latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI).

The survey pointed to continued business optimism despite external risks, although the construction sector remained weak for a third consecutive month.

The Bangladesh PMI rose by 1.1 points to 54.6 in April from the previous month, indicating a faster pace of expansion, the report said on Thursday.

The survey showed that all major sectors except construction recorded expansion during the month.

The agriculture sector posted its eighth consecutive month of expansion, with the pace of growth accelerati...