An Awami League (AL) rebel chairman candidate was stabbed at Kismat Gonokoir union of Durgapur upazila in Rajshahi this evening.

Alif Hossain, 40, Krishak League president of Durgapur upazila, was rushed to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital with critical wounds in his head, Parimal Kumar Chakrawarty, officer-in-charge of Durgapur Police Station, told our Rajshahi correspondent.

A group of armed supporters of AL-nominated chairman candidate Afsar Ali Mollah, led by his son Ratan, confined Alif while he was campaigning at Ujan Khalshi bazaar at around 6:00pm, police said.

Sensing danger, Alif took shelter at a barber shop and called the police, the OC told The Daily Star.

But, the attackers swooped on Alif before the police reached at the scene and stabbed in his head. Later, police rescued him, OC added.

The election in Durgapur union is scheduled to be held on May 28.