Akhaurah (India-Bangladesh Border), Aug 21 - Bangladesh has said it will increase trade and economic activities with India's northeast region and develop infrastructure at the border.

Bangladesh Commerce Minister Colonel (retired) Faruk Khan said: 'We have decided to increase trade and business with the northeastern region to reduce Bangladesh's trade gap with India.

'I will ask Bangladesh planning commission to approve the Taka 116 crore ($16.8 million) project within a day or two to develop the road and other border infrastructure along Akhaurah land port with India's Tripura state,' Khan told newspersons here Thursday after flagging off the first consignment of bricks from Bangladesh to northeastern India.

Bangladesh roads and highway department had submitted the proposal to the planning commission a few months back.

The Akhaurah land port, 150 km east of Dhaka and just 5 km west of Tripura capital Agartala, is one of Bangladesh's biggest trading routes with northeast India.

Khan said the Bangladesh government would take urgent steps to develop the other land ports with northeast India within six months.