Agartala, Jan 23 (IANS): A deal must be finalised to leverage the Chittagong international port for expanding business between northeast India and Bangladesh, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has said.

"Chittagong international port (in southeast Bangladesh) could play a catalyst role for the extension of business and economic growth between northeast India and Bangladesh. Governments of two countries must finalise a deal in this regard," Sarkar said here Thursday night.

After inaugurating a photography exhibition of Bangladeshi journalists, Sarkar said : "If the international sea port is allowed to be uses by the northeastern states, both economic prosperity and friendship among the people of the two nations would be further strengthen."

Chittagong international port, 75 km east of southern Tripura, is one of the oldest sea port and Chittagong is the 10th fastest growing city in the world.

"Governments and the business communities in northeastern states have been demanding to get access the Chittagong port to ferry goods and heavy machineries from different parts of India and abroad saving time and costs," Sarkar added.

A total of 44 photographs of 22 photo-journalists from Chittagong are being exhibited in the three-day exhibition, which has been sponsored by Indian High Commission and Indira Gandhi Cultural Center in Dhaka.

Chittagong Photo Journalist Association general secretary Rashed Mahmud said that similar exhibition will be held in Kolkata, Kathmandu and Dhaka subsequently.

In a message about the exhibition, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said: "Our patriotic journalists would do their best for building a positive Bangladesh internationally that would prosper our country."