In this paper, with symbolic computation, the Eckhaus-Kundu equation which appears in the quantum field theory, weakly nonlinear dispersive water waves and nonlinear optics, is studied via the Hirota method. By virtue of the dependent variable transformation, the bilinear form is obtained. Bilinear Backlund transformation is given with the help of exchange formulae and the corresponding one-soliton solution is derived. Bright and dark N-soliton solutions are obtained. Propagation and interaction of the bright and dark solitons are discussed analytically and graphically. Interactions of the two solitons are presented. Bound state of the two solitons can be suppressed via the choice of parameters. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.