The Indian government has stated it will make an exception to the ban on export to help tide over a crisis in the neighbouring country. Bangladesh will receive a large consignment of onions this weekend, after India decided to make an exception for Dhaka in the 14 September order that banned export of onions.

In an internal government communication seen, officials instructed India-Bangladesh border trade points to release the consignment of onions that Dhaka had already paid for before the ban order had come into effect.

The onion ban has caused a crisis in Bangladesh, with skyrocketing onion prices affecting the entire agriculture sector in the country. The neighbouring country this week sent an official note of protest to India saying such unexpected bans run counter to bilateral understandings reached in the recent past.