The award recognises Joy’s “outstanding leadership and commitment towards ICT and Competitiveness as a tool for sustainable development”.
Actor Robert Davi handed him the award at a high-level reception at One UN Plaza Millennium Hotel’s conference room in New York on Monday.
Hasina, special guest of the ceremony, said: “Joy taught me how to operate a computer. Therefore, he is my teacher.”
“He is the mastermind behind the development of information-technology in Bangladesh through which people from all spheres are becoming self-dependent. I am proud to have him as my son,” she added.
Joy, upon receiving the award, said: “The credit goes to all the officers and employees of the Bangladesh government. They are all working together for implementing the vision of Digital Bangladesh.”
Since then the rate of accessing government services digitally has increased drastically. It is now 35 percent, compared to only 0.3 percent in 2008.
The ICT export earnings rose to $300 million in 2015 from $26 million in 2009.
The government has set up 5,000 digital centres, which are providing 200 distinct services, across the country. Some 8,000 post offices are on track to become digital centres as well.
Last year, the government opened 60,000-square-feet software technology-park in which 16 companies moved in, 34 more are planning to do so soon.
This year in July, Bangladesh's first IT Incubation Centre has been launched which is expected to create over 100,000 jobs in coming years.
Joy graduated in computer science, physics and mathematics from Bangalore University, and did computer engineering at the University of Texas, Arlington in the US.
He completed his Masters in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.