The Khowai River Waterkeeper, Tofazzol Sohel, visited the Khowai River adjacent to Rangergaon, Batashar Tetoia, Gopaya Ratanpur and Paikpara villages of Nizampur and Gopaya union, Habiganj Sadar upazila on 11 January, 2016. The Join Secretary of the Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), Habiganj district Siddique Harun was present on the occasion.

During his visit, he observed pump and dredging machines are being used in some places of the river for sand extraction, and stored on the river embankment. This unplanned sand extraction causing erosion of the river bank and damage to the embankment, and also effecting the transportation of the local people. While visiting the area the Riverkeeper talked to the local people and was informed that sand extraction is going on without leasing in some places of the Khowai River. The sand extractors also threatened the local people who had protested.

On the following day, the Riverkeeper had a meeting with the local people and to mitigate the issue a plan for monitoring and a peaceful movement have been undertaken.