 Manpower export from Bangladesh was pioneered in 1976.Since then, International Recruiting or Placement Agents under BAIRA have recruited 5.5 million (approximate, 2009) Bangladeshis for jobs abroad.This resulted in record highest remittance inflow and foreign exchange earned of US$10 billion (net) for the fiscal year 2008-9, making migrant workers the leading contributor to Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserve.