In this article, we have developed new exact analytical solutions of a nonlinear evolution equation that appear in mathematical physics, a (2 + 1)-dimensional generalised time-fractional Hirota equation, which describes the wave propagation in an erbium-doped nonlinear fibre with higher-order dispersion. By virtue of the tanh-expansion and complete discrimination system by means of fractional complex transform, travelling wave solutions are derived.Wave interaction for the wave propagation strength and angle of field quantity under the long wave limit are analysed: Bell-shape solitons are found and it is found that the complex transform coefficient in thesystem affects the direction of the wave propagation, patterns of the soliton interaction, distance and direction.